DEMOCRATIC National Alliance Leader Branville McCartney said yesterday he was “unaware” of any coalition between his party and Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Tuner or the six other “rebel” Free National Movement members of Parliament.

In an interview with The Tribune, Mr McCartney said “there is no plan at this stage” to form a coalition between the two groups.

On Wednesday, in an interview on Hot 91.7 FM’s “Morning Madhouse” with host “C-Note”, Mrs Butler-Turner announced that she is forming a “very powerful and bold” coalition with Mr McCartney and the DNA that will “change the direction of the country.”

The Official Opposition leader also said the details of the “interesting” coalition would be announced “very soon”.

When contacted for a response yesterday, Mr McCartney said: “There is no plan to absorb anyone in the DNA. There is no plan at this stage, that I am aware of, for a coalition.

“The only conversation we had was about my becoming a senator. Right now the DNA is waiting for this election and how we will form the next government. With regard to the fantastic seven or the rebel seven, they are still with the FNM. They are still members of the Free National Movement.”

“The DNA is not with the FNM, we are completely different. So at this point there is no arrangement, there is no plan.”

Mr McCartney reiterated previous comments from DNA Deputy Leader Chris Mortimer, saying if anyone wants to become members of the DNA or a candidate there is a procedure that must be followed.

“We welcome anyone who is like minded to come to the DNA. Even me, I have to go and apply and go through the Candidates Committee and it has to be an unanimous decision,” Mr McCartney said.

“We are releasing another 11 candidates that have gone through the process and none of them are the rebel seven. Like I said, I am not aware of the coalition. Mrs Butler-Turner appointed me to lead the Senate and the discussion we had were in relation to being an effective opposition force and to get the PLP out of office. I have no difficulties with a coalition but we did not speak about one.”

On Wednesday, Mr Mortimer also told reporters the DNA had no plans to absorb the “rebel” seven, but said if they wished to run on the party’s ticket they had to go through the party’s Candidates Committee.

Last month, after ousting FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis as leader of the Official Opposition in Parliament and obtaining the position, Mrs Butler-Turner appointed Mr McCartney as leader of opposition business in the Senate.

At the time Mrs Butler-Turner said the move was evidence that her team was willing to put the Bahamian people first to move forward to defeat the governing Progressive Liberal Party.

Announcing the decision at the time, she insisted that she and the six FNM MPs who support her have not joined the DNA, but were working together for a “common good.”

Mrs Butler-Turner has had her nomination for Long Island revoked from the FNM as a result of her actions. She has indicated she has no plans to abandon the constituency, but has not said if she will run independent or with another party.

She along with the six other “rebel” MPs face expulsion, suspension or a fine from the party.

What does the PLP have to do with this? Voting for Loretta or Branville will not stop the PLP from getting re-elected. Loretta is not running with a party at all and the DNA will split the votes just like last time, making it easier for the PLP to win. But I can't fault the DNA. The FNM is basically political refuse at this point so no one but themselves is to be blamed if the outcome becomes what it looks likely to become.

These two wannabe political leaders (LBT & Bran) have exposed the worst in each other to the public. They have now well exposed each other for what they are truly all about. It's so obvious that neither one of them could ever be an honest, competent and intelligent politician with the ability to put the interests of our country and Bahamians as a whole ahead of their own personal love of (and insatiable desire for) great power and wealth at any cost.

I think almost every commenter on this post is lost. Loretta is putting together a coalition with the DNA and perhaps others. Branville is saying he is not aware of any coalition at this time. TRUE - there is none at this time, it is still being put together - negotiated.

He is not dumb enough to think DNA can win on their own. There will need to be a coalition of DNA with Loretta's people (likely not all seven of them will choose to run) - and some of Greg Moss's (UPM) people (which is a coalition party formed by joining his UDP and the People's Movement a few weeks ago).

Such a combined group will sweep the PLP out of office - where they may not even get one seat. The people will benefit by having a group that have to compromise and keep each other on point. The PLP can only win if they have a few people voting for them, and if FNM and others refuse to show up to vote for new people.

If the Bahamian people stay home or refuse to vote for new people (like UPM combined with DNA/Re7) and allow the few idiots that will vote PLP to place the PLP back in power - then WE DESERVE to have another downgrade and our currency to reduced to ten cents on the dollar. We will have basically asked for it. Remember, the PLP cannot win unless they have a least a few people vote for them. Where will you find a few people to vote for them? Will you import them from abroad? Surely nobody living in this country could do it.

The UPM will win the most seats in the next House, will smaller numbers of seats for the DNA and RE7. It will be a coalition. Zero seats for PLP. Zero.

In such case, it would be wise for the new Govt to appoint some PLPs to the Senate simply to preserve their voice in Govt - because ALL voices should be given a chance to be heard. If PLP wins no seats in the House, I would hope the new coalition will give them 2 senate seats.

Comrades! Don't you think both Loretta and Bran are hoping the voters have a very short attention span by the time they gets to the polling stations.This might be Bran's and Loretta's last chance to be politically renewed before the 2017 General. But only one them wants be the one standing in the end. This is turning out to be more of a temporary tryout of Loretta as a green acceptance... and Bran as a returning red.
Nope, you just couldn't have made this crap up... It tis for real... And we haven't even thrown Senator Rodney's not too idle Five-Cents contribution into the upper levels da humour mix!

LBT remains about as ignorant and dumb a politician as they come on way too many matters pertaining to the basic principles of our Westminster parliamentary system of government and the rules & procedures that apply to our parliamentarians and our standing committees of the House of Assembly. Some would like to believe she is a "heavy" weight in our country's political arena today, but in reality she is very much an uninformed "feather" weight of little import.

Comrade Reality_Check, I don't like the upcoming 2017 General... cause lots are there scare the living hell out all us.
Already a whole new generation younger electorates are already in place to take over the nation's governing instruments.... they're just not yet confidently ready to lead or in the voting spirit.
Personally, I have this strong feeling that regardless of the 2017 General's results, there will be another General Elections bell rungs within a 6 to 14 months post General time frame that I believe will awaken many more to register to vote and to turnout on election day.